SNHU to develop master’s degree in online teaching

Partnership with Virginia-based K12 Inc. will enhance online teaching curriculum

Southern New Hampshire University has forged a partnership with Virginia-based online and blended learning education company K12 Inc. to develop a master’s of education in online teaching.

The customized, competency-based graduate degree program will initially be available to K12 educators and the company’s partner school employees. Over time, SNHU will offer the program directly to teachers around the country.

K12 has focused on personalized digital education for elementary and secondary education over the past two decades. The company is making a significant investment toward the development of a new center of excellence in online instruction, according to the press release.

“Highly-effective teachers are a critical component of student success,” said K12 CEO Stuart Udell. “Our partnership with SNHU to develop a Master’s of Education in Online Teaching reinforces K12’s mission to put students first.”

“SNHU works with companies and community organizations in a variety of fields to provide pathways to education for employees,” said Paul LeBlanc, president of SNHU. “We look forward to working with K12 to better study the best practices of their teachers to meet the needs of today’s students and educators in the online learning environment.”

The program will consist of both training modules and a series of three to six graduate-level micro-credential programs, which can stack into a full master’s degree in education focused on excellence in online instruction at the elementary and secondary levels. Teachers will progress through the program at their own pace as they complete competencies and projects set in real-world contexts.

The partnership will begin with an in-depth research component to identify best practices in online education and inform program development.

“This alliance will be rooted in research,” adds Udell. “The program brings to bear the best-in-class resources of both organizations to create performance benchmarks, deliver teacher training, and map out career pathways for current and future generations of online educators.”